“Ex-London to London – think *Around the World in 80 Days*!”
A true mainstay of American car manufacturing, Studebaker remains, however, relatively unknown in Europe. One of its flagship models, which has been in production since the late 1920s, is the Commander. After the war, the Commander first adopted the ‘pontoon’ style and the now legendary ‘shell-shaped’ bonnet, before undergoing a redesign in 1953 to feature a lower, more flowing silhouette – well ahead of its time!
The example featured in these pages is unique in terms of its history, as in 2000 it took part, with its previous owner, in the ‘London to London’ – a round-the-world road trip completed in just 80 days. This well-known collector on the historic motorsport scene sourced the car directly from Chicago, before bringing it back to France and giving it a complete restoration.
Nothing was left to chance: a 150-litre fuel tank, modifications to allow it to run on low-grade fuel, gas-filled shock absorbers, a limited-slip differential, front disc brakes, and even the addition of air conditioning – very useful in the desert! A few years ago, the car changed hands and found its way into the garage of another major collector, who was planning to take part in the Peking to Paris rally in it.
Once again, considerable expense was incurred to restore the car to running order. Today, the car is virtually ready to take the start, and is in peak condition! In fine overall condition, our Stud’ boasts a very interesting patina typical of adventurers’ cars!
Enthusiasts looking for the perfect car to take part in the next Pekin-Paris – or any similar rally – here is the ideal choice!